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Raucci wants his conviction overturned
Ex-school supervisor files appeal over evidence at arson, conspiracy trial
By Paul Nelson
Published 11:39 p.m., Wednesday, May 30, 2012
  
SCHENECTADY — The court erred in allowing prior bad acts, crimes that allegedly occurred outside the county and video of a concrete block being blown up by explosives into evidence at Steven Raucci's trial, according to an appeal seeking to overturn his 2010 conviction.

Those are among a dozen arguments outlined in an 81-page appeal filed Tuesday that Raucci hopes will convince the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court in Albany that the imprisoned retired city school employee deserves a new trial.

Much of those issues have come up previously during the criminal case that began with Raucci's arrest at his workplace in February 2009 and ended two years ago with his conviction on 18 counts, including arson, conspiracy and weapons offenses. He was acquitted of a top-level terrorism charge.

At sentencing, he received 23 years to life, which the appeal is asking the justices to reduce.

Raucci, 63, was found guilty in Schenectady County for placing explosives on the property of people he perceived as enemies in Saratoga and Rensselaer counties.

"The people completely disregarded the principle that Raucci has the right to be tried in the county where the alleged offense occurred," the filing states on the issue of extra-territorial jurisdiction. Exceptions are made in cases, for example, where the defendant's conduct has exposed a large number of county residents to a specific harm or involves thefts from the county, the court papers indicates.........................>>>>.......................>>>>..................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/loca.....23.php#ixzz1wRYzuWdZ